“It is crucial for us to maintain contact with the international business community, especially in Europe and the United States … They have significant business interests in Hong Kong.”
Ma, now an honorary professor in economics at the University of Hong Kong, was renewing his earlier call for government-led business delegations to ward off smear campaigns while the city battled negative impressions such as those resulting from US sanctions imposed on certain local officials.
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Hong Kong passes domestic national security law, fast-tracking legislation shelved for 2 decades
Hong Kong passes domestic national security law, fast-tracking legislation shelved for 2 decades
She said explanation and clarification were needed to assuage worries by beginning “to tell the real story about Hong Kong’s national security law” after the “victory lap” celebrating its passing.
After attending an event on Sunday, Ip said she planned to exchange views with American think tanks next month and expressed an eagerness to explain the law to foreign business executives or scholars who had concerns.
She said organisations she had approached so far had no issue with the Article 23 law, while some had sought additional details.
“I haven’t seen anyone genuinely fearful to the point of wanting to leave [Hong Kong]. These claims are exaggerated,” she said.
Ip, also a member of the legislature’s relevant bills committee, added she did not fear repercussions by foreign powers and would visit the US “for work purposes” if needed.
The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance – a requirement under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution – took effect on Saturday after lawmakers passed the legislation in a marathon session last week.
A war of words between China and foreign critics such as the US and Britain quickly ensued after the legislation’s passing, continuing into the weekend.
But Ma said on Sunday: “If the situation is like what [Blinken] had said, [the US companies] should have already left Hong Kong.”
He said countries such as the US, Britain and Australia showed a “double standard” in their responses, because they too had laws in place to protect national security.
Beijing hits back at US criticism of Hong Kong’s Article 23 security law
Beijing hits back at US criticism of Hong Kong’s Article 23 security law
The former commerce official also said the city’s challenges, from the 2019 anti-government protests to the Covid-19 pandemic, undoubtedly affected its standing as an international financial centre and made it difficult for those overseas to understand what it had been going through.
“The government needs to strive for self-improvement and maintain a sense of crisis when solidifying Hong Kong as an international financial centre as other countries are eager to seize the opportunities available to take our status,” he said.
Apart from attracting new investments from the Middle East, Ma stressed the importance of overseas promotion even though some Western countries did not have positive attitudes towards the city.
“It could be beneficial for the government to put together advertising campaigns abroad, including op-ed pieces, to present the actual situation in Hong Kong,” he said. “This would prevent media monopolisation of one-sided narratives.”
